Washington Environmental Council

At a Glance

Community Engagement in the Environment;Environmental Sustainability;Healthy Puget Sound

General Population
Serves
Washington State
Founded in

1,967

Staff:
16 FTE
Individuals served:
6,500,000

Description

Washington Environmental Council (WEC) is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization that has been driving positive change to solve Washington’s most critical environmental challenges since 1967. We have protected beautiful places across the state, safeguarded the health of our families, and achieved passage of laws that are the foundation for protecting Washington's environment. Together, we have made Washington State a national leader in creating a more sustainable future.

Programs

Washington Environmental Council Programs

Climate & Clean EnergyWEC is working to advance policy that will move the dial on state emissions reduction, use energy efficiently, accelerate our transition to clean energy, and set limits on global warming pollution.

People For Puget Sound
At WEC, we are honored that People For Puget Sound found us to be the right group to carry on their policy, advocacy, and grassroots work. We are excited to be digging even further into an issue we’ve been working on for many years. Our mission remains the same: protect and restore Puget Sound to health. Our Goals for Puget Sound:

Protect and Restore Water Quality

Protect and Restore Habitat Critical to the Recovery of Puget Sound Species

Engage Citizens to Protect and Restore the Sound

The Environmental Priorities CoalitionThe Environmental Priorities Coalition is a state-wide effort of leading groups pushing for improved protections for the health of people, land, air and water of Washington. Each year, we come together to select up to four issues to advance in the state legislature.

Sustainable Forests
We work to improve management of Washington's state forests, creating a model of sustainable forestry that protects the environment and benefits all the people of the state.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

Here in Washington, we’re at a turning point. We have a chance to build on our history of leadership in climate and clean energy policy – steps that have led to our growing green economy. We need to build upon this momentum to make sure we stay on the cutting edge and make the transition to a clean energy future. WEC is a leader in the Power Past Coal coalition, working to prevent coal export through the Northwest. And we’re helping advance forward-looking climate policy in the legislature, most recently working with Governor Jay Inslee to pass a climate action bill.

In 2012, WEC expanded our focus on Puget Sound, when we took on the policy, advocacy, and grassroots work of People For Puget Sound. We are working to prevent the flow of polluted stormwater runoff into the Sound by advancing smart policies, like our state’s new municipal stormwater permit, that will prevent new development from adding to the problem. And we’re pushing for funding needed for clean water infrastructure projects. We recently helped pass the Derelict Vessel bill which reduces the threat of abandoned ships (often with toxics and fuel still aboard) to the Sound. We’re looking at emerging issues for the Sound, like ocean acidification.

WEC also plays defense – making sure the good laws we have on the books are protected. During the 2012 legislative session, more than 75 bills that would have rolled back our environmental protections were proposed. Working with our partners, WEC was able to fend off these bills and prevent our environmental protections from being gutted.

Evaluation

The Washington Environmental Council (WEC) has been at the forefront in securing some of Washington’s bedrock environmental laws. Highly collaborative, they utilize tools including public education, legislative campaigns, research and engagement in order to achieve positive outcomes for our environment.

Best Practices
WEC plays a leadership role in setting and advancing the agenda of the Environmental Priorities Coalition and work to bring the environmental community together in more impactful ways. Through this coalition, groups come together to choose and advocate on behalf of a common environmental policy agenda, bringing organizations to be on the same page and increase their effectiveness in achieving their goals. This is a national model, which WEC has presented on around the country, helping other states attempt to replicate it.

Collaboration
WEC has demonstrated the ability to bring together people—from all sides of an issue—to reach solutions. They have developed partnerships and built consensus among various stakeholders, including: health care, education, religious organizations, clean energy businesses, tribal governments, farmers, green builders and numerous environmentally focused nonprofit organizations.

Additionally, WEC was a pioneer and leader in the Environmental Priorities Coalition. The Coalition is made up of 24 groups who work together to choose and advocate on behalf of a common environmental policy agenda. Through the Clean Water & Green Infrastructure Agenda campaign, they will be collaborating with The Nature Conservancy, People for Puget Sound (who’s brand, policy, research, and advocacy efforts are now housed at WEC following the organization’s disolvement), Transportation Choices Coalition, Sightline Institute, and Resource Media. Additionally, WEC is co-located with the Washington Conservation Voters.

Sustainability
In 2010, WEC adopted a new five-year strategic plan, which lays out ambitious programmatic and organizational goals. To support the organization’s increasing programmatic objectives, WEC aims to increase its annual budget to $2 million; develop a planned giving program and build an endowment with $5 million in pledges; and further diversify and increase funding for the Voter Education Program. WEC sees more national funding opportunities in supporting the Power Past Coal Campaign.

The organization does not have budget actuals for the previous year.

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If you care about restoring the environmental health of Puget Sound, ensuring sustainability in our region, and broadening the environmental movement, then make a difference by giving to the Grantmaking Program.

Environment

Community Engagement in the Environment;Environmental Sustainability;Healthy Puget Sound

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